history

"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

____ Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation -1805

Personal Bio: Michael Tomlinson

I started studying Martial Arts in 1969 at the age of eleven years old. The first style that I studied was Goju Ryu Karate. Plenty of low stances, push ups and hitting the makiwara boards. A great foundation and discipline Martial Art. Over the following 34 years I have studied numerous Martial Arts, these include: Korean Karate, Judo, Hapkido, TaeKwonDo, Ninjutsu, Iaido, Yoga, Wrestling, Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Some of the my past Martial Arts instructors have included: Master Frank Grant, GrandMaster Y.J.Chung, Master Stephen Hayes, Master Vincent Hirsch, Grandmaster Neil Hummerstone, Steve Mortel, Master Harold Whalen, Master Rick Nabors, and Doju Nim Ji Han Jae.

In 1988 I fell in love with the art of Hapkido and have been active in that art ever since. At this time I am a 4th Dan Black Belt certified with the World Sin Moo Hapkido Organization under Doju Nim Ji Han Jae. I started my Hapkido training with Steve Mortel who is a 3rd Dan Hapkidoist and one of the first generation students under Master Harold Whalen. Over the last 13 years I have recieved all of my lower belt geup ranks in Hapkido under the critical tutelage of Steve Mortel and Master Harold Whalen.

I might also add that every Geup ranking and Dan ranking that I have ever recieved in the art of Hapkido has only come to me after a very arduous test that involved all the information and techniques pertaining to that specific rank. In the early years I trained with Steve Mortel in Florida while the headquarters for us was in Boston. This created a unique testing dilema. During my early Hapkido geup rank tests Steve Mortel would give me a strenuous Hapkido test while a video camera was running. After the testing the video would be sent to Master Harold Whalen in Boston. Only after Master Whalen viewed the testing along with his black belts in Boston and then acknowledged my ability would I be given the promotion. I trained like this for many years and I believe the quality control that I went through in Hapkido greatly enhanced my technique and understanding of this great art. I now test and train the same way. In the Hapkido classes I teach there is no such thing as a free pass. You must execute demonstrate and basically be able to "walk the walk and not talk the talk". In the long run this is what's most important.

I recieved my 1st Dan ranking in Hapkido under the World Hapkido Federation through Master Harold Whalen and GrandMaster Kwang Sik Myung.

I recieved my 2nd Dan ranking in Hapkido under the Hapkido Moo Ye Kwan Organization through Master Harold Whalen.

I recieved my 3rd Dan ranking in Hapkido under the Hapkido Moo Ye Kwan Organization through Master Harold Whalen and also recieved a Certificate of Appointment from Master Harold Whalen. At that time Master Whalen told us that I was only the second person he had ever given a Certificate of Appointment to. I was very honored then and I still am.